The Wand Company TOS Tricorder is coming!

[finalfrontier]

I would like to think that the purchase link will drop soon, here's hoping.

 

[asalaw]

I would like to think that the purchase link will drop soon, here's hoping.

From your lips (or keyboard) to God's ears!

And in other good news, our Wand tricorders will never do this!

 

[FANATICO]

Yeah, that's where I'm at too. Trying to figure out this tariff stuff is feeling like chasing my tail, and without knowing when they go on sale and ship, it's kind of pointless.

Don’t let this happen to you!

 

[NakedMoleRat]

“He’s always doing that!”

 

[FANATICO]

From your lips (or keyboard) to God's ears!

And in other good news, our Wand tricorders will never do this!

View attachment 1924500

The mother of all “Equipment Malfunctions”….

 

[FANATICO]

A well known favorite of Nimoy - Spock Snacks…..

 

[asalaw]

Another interesting tidbit:

Looks like the top door interior of at least one of the tricorders survived till the end of the season, or at least very nearly. City on the Edge of Forever was the next-to-last episode shot, and here's one of the tricorders (maybe A?) with the top door open.

 

[Gregatron]

Another interesting tidbit:

Looks like the top door interior of at least one of the tricorders survived till the end of the season, or at least very nearly. City on the Edge of Forever was the next-to-last episode shot, and here's one of the tricorders (maybe A?) with the top door open.

View attachment 1924560

Tricorder A (moire disc) was the one used for the insert closeup shots of the news footage and newspaper articles in that episode, so it seems likely.

 

[asalaw]

Tricorder A (moire disc) was the one used for the insert closeup shots of the news footage and newspaper articles in that episode, so it seems likely.

Possibly. But the background in the inserts is black. My guess is the inserts were shot as pickups at the end of the schedule, since as a rule ADs are allergic to slowing down the schedule to grab those. Or it could've even been a splinter unit at some other point in the shoot, just breaking off with the little Arri B-camera to grab the shots in a corner of the stage.

On the other hand, those do look like Nimoy's fingers. So it's possible. Without seeing the shooting schedule and/or call sheets (they don't always match), it's impossible to know.

 

[Gregatron]

Possibly. But the background in the inserts is black. My guess is the inserts were shot as pickups at the end of the schedule, since as a rule ADs are allergic to slowing down the schedule to grab those. Or it could've even been a splinter unit at some other point in the shoot, just breaking off with the little Arri B-camera to grab the shots in a corner of the stage.

On the other hand, those do look like Nimoy's fingers. So it's possible. Without seeing the shooting schedule and/or call sheets (they don't always match), it's impossible to know.

View attachment 1924572

Regardless of when the inserts were shot or whether Nimoy’s hands were used, it’s safe to say that tricorder A was always used by Nimoy, and that it was the primary hero tricorder. It was consistently used by the second-top-billed actor/character, was the one photographed for reference (and also appeared in TMOST), and was the one photographed for the closeups/inserts.

Tricorder B, with its notable defect/warpage on the hood, was consistently used by Kelley, and never got anywhere near the same amount of attention.

And then, of course, the two props were apparently disassembled and then mish-mashed after the first season, and the upper compartments were never seen again, until the “That Which Survives” variant came along.

 

[FANATICO]

I can’t wait until TWC offers these future retro plug and play Tricorder accessories ….

 

[asalaw]

Regardless of when the inserts were shot or whether Nimoy’s hands were used, it’s safe to say that tricorder A was always used by Nimoy, and that it was the primary hero tricorder. It was consistently used by the second-top-billed actor/character, was the one photographed for reference (and also appeared in TMOST), and was the one photographed for the closeups/inserts.

Tricorder B, with its notable defect/warpage on the hood, was consistently used by Kelley, and never got anywhere near the same amount of attention.

And then, of course, the two props were apparently disassembled and then mish-mashed after the first season, and the upper compartments were never seen again, until the “That Which Survives” variant came along.

Good point. I quickly found two different episodes where Kelley is definitely using the B:

 

[Gregatron]

Good point. I quickly found two different episodes where Kelley is definitely using the B:

View attachment 1924586View attachment 1924587

Offhand, I also recall him using it in “The Galileo Seven” and “Shore Leave”, among others.

The only Nimoy usage of Tricorder B I can think of is “Balance Of Terror”.

 

[asalaw]

Offhand, I also recall him using it in “The Galileo Seven” and “Shore Leave”, among others.

The only Nimoy usage of Tricorder B I can think of is “Balance Of Terror.

I think every tricorder shot in Shore Leave was the B, including Rodriguez, Sulu, and Spock. The slide switch gives it away. I've always assumed it meant they only brought one Tricorder to the location.

 

[JiminSTLouis]

If you haven’t reviewed the Tricorder User’s Manual lately, they’ve added instructions for the lower compartment dividers. Two of them are modeled to accept the peripheral medical scanner.

 

[Gregatron]

I think every tricorder shot in Shore Leave was the B, including Rodriguez, Sulu, and Spock. The slide switch gives it away. I've always assumed it meant they only brought one Tricorder to the location.

Most likely.

 

[asalaw]

If you haven’t reviewed the Tricorder User’s Manual lately, they’ve added instructions for the lower compartment dividers. Two of them are modeled to accept the peripheral medical scanner.

View attachment 1924594

Are you kidding? I peruse it several times a day. That's one reason I keep getting that IP lockout screen.

 

[asalaw]

Fascinating. I had assumed Wand picked Tritan for the tricorder screen because they wanted something tough, clear, and scratch resistant, and it was cheaper than Lexan. Apparently that's incorrect.

I asked Grok to compare and contrast the two, and it gave a very surprising answer. Assuming Grok isn't hallucinating (again), Tritan is more expensive but better suited for the job, and even more scratch resistant than Lexan. Behold, the authoritative opinion of a dubious AI!

Lexan and Tritan are both high-performance plastics often used for their clarity, durability, and impact resistance, but they differ in composition, properties, and applications. Below is a comparison and contrast of the two materials:
Composition

• Lexan: A brand name for polycarbonate (PC), a thermoplastic polymer known for its toughness and transparency.
• Tritan: A brand name for a copolyester, specifically a BPA-free thermoplastic developed by Eastman Chemical Company.

Similarities

1. Clarity and Aesthetics:
   • Both materials are highly transparent, resembling glass, making them ideal for applications like bottles, lenses, and containers.
   • They can be molded into various shapes while maintaining optical clarity.
2. Impact Resistance:
   • Both are extremely durable and resistant to shattering, far surpassing glass in toughness.
   • Used in products requiring high impact strength, such as safety gear and drinkware.
3. Lightweight:
   • Lexan and Tritan are significantly lighter than glass, making them practical for portable items like water bottles and eyewear.
4. Versatility:
   • Both are moldable and used across industries, including consumer goods, medical devices, and automotive parts.

Differences

1. Chemical Composition and Safety:
   • Lexan: Made from polycarbonate, which may contain bisphenol A (BPA). Concerns about BPA leaching in food-contact applications have led to restrictions in some regions.
   • Tritan: Specifically engineered to be BPA-free, making it a preferred choice for food and beverage containers like water bottles and baby products.
2. Chemical Resistance:
   • Lexan: Susceptible to degradation when exposed to certain chemicals, such as ammonia or alkaline solutions, which can cause crazing or cracking.
   • Tritan: Offers superior chemical resistance, maintaining integrity when exposed to harsh detergents, alcohols, and cleaning agents.
3. Temperature Resistance:
   • Lexan: Can withstand higher temperatures (up to ~125°C) and is used in applications like autoclavable medical equipment. However, it may deform under prolonged heat exposure.
   • Tritan: Has slightly lower heat resistance (up to ~100°C) but performs better in dishwasher environments without warping or losing clarity.
4. Scratch Resistance:
   • Lexan: Prone to scratching unless coated with a protective layer, which is often necessary for applications like eyeglass lenses.
   • Tritan: Naturally more scratch-resistant, making it suitable for repeated use in products like reusable drinkware.
5. Cost:
   • Lexan: Generally less expensive due to its widespread use and established manufacturing processes.
   • Tritan: Tends to be pricier because of its specialized formulation and BPA-free certification.
6. Environmental Impact:
   • Lexan: Polycarbonate recycling is possible but less common, and BPA concerns raise environmental questions.
   • Tritan: Marketed as more environmentally friendly due to its BPA-free nature and durability, though recycling availability varies.

Applications

• Lexan:
  • Bulletproof glass, riot shields, and safety goggles due to extreme impact resistance.
  • Automotive headlamp lenses and aircraft windows.
  • Medical devices requiring sterilization (with coatings to improve chemical resistance).
• Tritan:
  • Reusable water bottles (e.g., Nalgene, CamelBak) and food storage containers.
  • Baby bottles and sippy cups due to BPA-free certification.
  • High-end kitchen appliances and blender jars for chemical and dishwasher resistance.

Summary

• Choose Lexan for applications prioritizing extreme impact resistance and cost-effectiveness, such as industrial or safety equipment, but be mindful of BPA concerns and chemical sensitivity.
• Choose Tritan for food-safe, BPA-free products with excellent chemical and dishwasher resistance, ideal for consumer goods like drinkware and kitchenware.

Very interesting--if this is accurate, Wand really made a great choice!

 

[asalaw]

One thing that bothered me slightly was that the micro sd slot is on the topside of the hood, as I held it in my hands at Comic-Con. I mentioned it just didn’t seem right to be there, why couldn’t they put the slot low in the back of the case near the micro USB port. Of course, it would require a re-design they weren’t prepared to do.

I just found this in the "First Shots" update--there definitely would be no room for an SD slot by the USB-C port. The battery takes up all that space.

 

[FANATICO]

I just found this in the "First Shots" update--there definitely would be no room for an SD slot by the USB-C port. The battery takes up all that space.

View attachment 1924674

You stated “I read somewhere that toward the end they were updating the Tricorder's software via the USB-C connector.”

Perhaps the USB-C “is” now dual use! Given the pictures below both from the TWC website….the pic to the right shows the sd card slot gone. Which would mean that perhaps the Factory Reset statement wasn’t updated in the manual to reflect a change. It looks way “natural” without the slot, you must agree….

I could only hope it’s true…